Has anyone drive Route 30 Around the Westernmost part of Maui?

[cruisin'sz]

This scenic drive looks great according to the Revealed Book. Has anyone done it? Are the roads very dangerous? We're thinking of spending 1/2 day exploring the road (the Olivine Pools, Nakelele Blowhole, etc) while on the way to Lahaina, but want to weigh in the danger factor first. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[daWoods]

The road around West Maui is very narrow in spots, with 2 way traffic. However, that being said, if you take it slow you should be fine. I also recommend you drive it from Kapalua to Kahului since that puts you on the inside lane. Again I will caution you about the locals. They know the road so well they drive it much faster than you will, so if one comes up behind you, pull over and let them by. They appreciate it and so will you. The scenery is worth the trip IMO.

[lambs2]

We drove it from Kahului to Lahaina in June of 2006. DH love to drive mountain roads and he absolutely loved this drive. (I thnk he is a frustrated Nascar driver!) I was on the scary side of the car, but I trust his driving totally and never felt frightened. I think it helps to be in a small car as the roads are qute narrow in some places. We started our day after picking up our rental car by going to Iao Valley State Park (AWESOME!) and then went on this west coast drive all the way to Lahaina. There were some one way sections, including one or two bridges and blind corners, but use your horn and listen carefully for any oncoming traffic and it will be fine. If you have any fear of heights this may not be the drive for you, but the views are incomparable. Do make sure it is a clear sunny day before starting out on this adventure!:)

[Desert Cruizers]

We will be cruising to the Islands, Oct 11, 2008 and many of our Roll Call members are thinking of renting a car/van for the 2nd day in Lahaina where we Tender. Reason being, we are going to OLL first night so thought of spending day right there. Any recommendations regarding rental car or van. Thank You

[RSWBADGER]

This information is from a April 30, 2007 Thread, we took this route on our cruise back in March 2007.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=539219&highlight=FORBIDDEN

 

Maui's Kahekili Highway - The Forbidden Road

We traveled this forbidden route to Kapalua on our Pride of Aloha cruise last month, has anyone else done this drive?

 

Quote:

It wasn't until sometime in the 1990s that this road was completely paved, and open to travel for rental cars (though some companies may still place it off-limits, so visitors should check their rental contracts). Even now, it remains a little-used "back door" into west Maui (for good reason, as shown below).

 

I called it the "Forbidden Highway" because about halfway through our trip I referred to the map given to us by the rental agency and it said it was "Forbidden" to drive this stretch of road due to it being a one lane road for quite a stretch.

 

There are incredible views from this highway.

(Click to Enlarge)

[/img]

__________________

[Desert Cruizers]

Wonderful shots of the lava, not sure I would stand that close. Years back we drove the Crater Rim Road, stayed up in Hana, just drove all over the Islands. We also planned picnic lunches and stopped off at a park or along side the road, beaches.

 

RADIANCE OF THE SEAS, OCT 11, 2008 HAWAII

[andydee]

The road is tricky but not if you go slowly and are not in a hurry. The scenery is very different from east Maui; think more rugged and barren than the very tropical road to Hana although there are some tropical valleys along the way and the ruggedness of the scenery is attractive in it's own right. For those who have driven Nova Scotia's Cabot Trail, some sections remind me of that.

Cheers

Andy

[Desert Cruizers]

Andy we had a wonderful time, rented cars for each Island and drove all around seeing where the people lived rather then all the tourist sites. On the Big Island we stayed in cabins, felt like we were in Camp. The road to hana was an experience but enjoyed it. Looking forward to our return visit Oct 2008 on our cruise.

Gay-So Calif

[Wisconsinites]

We drove route 30 clockwise around West Maui. It's a beautiful drive. You'll love the Olivine Pools, although be careful on the steep descent down to the water . . . it's rocky and in some spots, slippery. Route 30 is fine, but when it becomes 340, it becomes a very dangerous road! For about a mile and a half, it's one lane, not two lanes, and there are many blind corners. You're ascending steeply, then descending. When a car approaches you head on, one of you has to back up to the nearest turnout area, which are few and far between. We had a scary experience. A car came around a blind curve and wasn't going to be able to get around us. We wanted to back into the turnout we'd just passed, but a car was behind us, and it took that turnout. I suppose that driver expected us to go around him, in reverse, and find another, but we'd have been backing around a blind corner. Instead, we just pulled over as far as we absolutely could, in hopes that the approaching car could get around both cars. As it started to slowly creep around us, we could see its front tire was starting to go off the side of the cliff! We screamed for the driver to stop, and he did. He backed up and tried it again, this time getting closer to us (an inch or so of space between our cars). It was a nail-biting experience that really had us shaken up for awhile. After that, the road got a little better. The views into the valley were breathtakingly beautiful. We later learned that our rental car company forbids drivers from using this part of the highway.

[Mauizach]

It is a place few go, look for signs there is a out of the way native art store, with a Coke machine. Be sure tank is full no gas anywhere along the road. Honk before blind turns, if you can not drive backwards do not go! If you drive clock wise you will be on the mountain side, not the ocean cliff side. For your first time it is better....The views are worth the risk!!! You will get pictures few ever get.... Mahalo:rolleyes:

[shell03]

We drove this area last week and it was amazing. The views are spectacular!

 

My DH was pretty exhausted after the drive. Keep in mind that you really should be out of the area before dark. There were many places where rock had fallen onto the road, so pay close attention to that. We ended up driving behind a van (with tourists) and at one point we ended up at a standstill. The van and an oncoming car couldn't pass each other. It took a little while but thankfully, the car backed up for us to pass.

 

The "best banana bread" stand was closed, as they were on vacation!! (for the Revealed readers).

 

The Olivine pools were incredible. It is a bit of a journey down. There were many people there. I brought a bottle of water with me and was thankful that I did. The blowhole was more beautiful and interesting than Spouting Horn (on Kauai) but also much more dangerous. We witnessed a man nearly being swept off of the rocks into the ocean. It was truly a miracle that he didn't fall in. The waves and rock formations are dangerous but SO WELL WORTH IT!

 

Thank you, RSWBADGER for the photos. We lost our memory stick and have no "proof" that we were there at all. It is wonderful to be able to see the area through your photos.

 

I would encourage everyone who has the opportunity and desire, to take this drive around West Maui.

 

It was a great highlight of our trip!

[2Scots]

We have done this drive twice. I would never do it again as this is a very dangerous road. The whole road is not all cliffs and dangerous but on the one stretch where it is one lane watch out. Someone could very easily go over and two cars can very barely pass. Like one other poster said you may have to backup. Just imagine backing up close to a cliff! It is hairy.

 

You might ask why I did it twice? Well the first time I was unaware that it was so dangerous because we did not do our research. I drove and there was no place to stop and let my husband drive. My mother layed down and hid in the back seat. My husband loved every minute of it.

 

The second time my husband offered me something I couldn't refuse. Yes lovely jewelry. But never again....... it was hair raising. He loved it.

 

This was meant as an awareness so there are no surprises about this road.

 

2Scots